Artwork

Lovers parting, page from a book of fables

Lovers parting, page from a book of fables, by Unknown, unspecified, 1592
Lovers parting, page from a book of fables, by Unknown, unspecified, 1592

Lovers parting, page from a book of fables is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1592 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This painting is a page from a book of fables created for the Mughal court, depicting a poignant scene of two lovers parting ways in a rugged, isolated landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows two figures walking in opposite directions, separated by a dead serpent being consumed by foxes, amidst an ominous terrain with unusual rock formations and a distant cityscape.

Technique & Style

The artwork features soft, muted colors and gentle shading, characteristic of late 16th-century Mughal court painting, with an otherworldly quality enhanced by the absence of a defined light source and shadows.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.